Carbonating apparatus and method



May 3 19,27. 1,62 7,439

H. N. KILBY CARBONATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. `18, 1924 gnvemtoz aucun Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES HERBERT N'. KILBY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CARBONATING APPARATUS AND METHOD.

Application led Aug-ust 18, 1924.V Serial No. 732,644.

The present invention is directed to improvements in carbonating apparatus, and particularly to one designed for the continuous carbonation of alkaline sugar juice.

As is well known in the carbonation of sugar juice the ljuice is thoroughly mixed with lime and afterwards subjected to the action of carbonio acid gas, which causes the impurities held in solution in the juice to settle in` the apparatus, thereby producing la juice which is clear. The gas coming from the commercial kilns. now used in sugar and soda ash plants never reaches a purity exceeding 420% carbonio acid gas and ranges from to 40%, depending upon the type of kiln and the amountof fuel used to the amount of limestone to be burnt.

The remainder of the gas is commonly termed waste gas as it does not combine with the limed juices and serves no active part in the usual ca-rbonating process. The character of the commercial gas from any particular kiln varies from time to time in its content of carbonio acid and waste gas, due to, several causes, among which are: excesses of air entering a kiln during the time the charging door ofthe kiln is opened when being charged;4 changes in pump suction which causes the draft in the kiln to vary; also, differential in the vwater level in the gas washer. all of these tend to increase or decrease the amount of air entering the kiln and cause the carbonio acid gas content in the commencial gas to fluctuate. Hence it control automatically these changes in the gas with the apparatus and method herein described by the utilization of the waste gases coming from the kiln gas which enters the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which composed of a few parts so arranged that the carbonation of sugar juice will be effectively and rapidly performed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of this character constructed in such manner that the carbonio acid gas and juice will iiow constantly during the carbonation ofthe juice, and the gas will be intimately commingled with the juice during the carbonation process, shortenin'g the time the impurities, that arefreed out of the juice by the action of the carbonio is an object of this invention to be able tol gas, are held in contacty with the carbonated juice.

lVith these and other will appear invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and objects in View as arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fullyl valve structure.

Referring to the specific embodiment of thisinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawing', numerals l and 2 designate similar carbonatin are. supported partially above and partially below the floor 3 by brackets 4:. vThe lower ends of the tubes 1 and 2 are tapered and are provided with normally closed outlets 5 through which deposits of heavy material may be drawn off.v

Each of the tubes is provided with a perforated partition plate 6 adjacent the bottom thereof,` which serves to break up the gas and thoroughly commingle the gas The juice .which is admitted below the partition plate 6 of the tube l by means of a valve 7 rises to the level of the juice outlet port 8 and passes down into the lower por tion of the second tube. tube the juice passes trough thev pipe line 9 into the bottom of the overflow box 10 and then to the filter press pumps (not shown).

Commercial carbonio acid gas enters through the main gas valve 11 into a T connection 12 and passes from the T connection to the chamber 13 of the regulating valve 14, hereinafter to be described, and through the valve 15 to the lower `portion of the first tube 2. Each tube is further provided with a valve 16 controlling the passage of waste gas from the tubes to the roof.

A pipe line 17 connected to the upper as the description proceeds, theV side elevation of the com-v enlarged detail View of theV vessels or tubes which and juice.

From the second j portion of the tube 1 enters the chamber held in its uppermost position by the eXpansion spring; 2l havingl its opposite ends in engagement with the adjustable support 22 and the plate 2?) on the lower si le ot the diaphragm 19. The disk 2t is mounted on the valve stem E20 just belou7 the chamber 'l-3 and partially closes the conical open' ig; 25 in the bottom ol said cliamber. The diameter ot the disk 2st is less than the smallest diameter et the opening; in order that the valve la may be partly open at all times. The lower end ol the valve l is connected by a pipe line 26 to the lower portion et the second tube. lt is to be noted that extensions 2T are proy'ded 'from all the valves so that they may be conveniently operated 'from the lfloor The pointer 28 rigidly secured to the valve stem 20 travels over the scale QS) to indicate the quality of the gas enteru'ur the apparatus at all times and a small Jfaucet BO is attached te the overflow box so that samples ot the juice may be obtained.

The operation oit the apparatus is as `lollows:

The sugar juice is normally kept in large tanks (not shown) located at a level above that et the carbonating apparatus and is mixed with the proper amount of lime oxide betere entering the apparatus. Upon opening of the valve 'l' the limed juice passes into the lirst tube at an approximate pres-- sure ot three and one-halt (3l/2) pounds and the pressure of the gas is at all times maintained constant and equal to the juice pressure, both of these pressures being` regulated exteriorly ot' the apparatus.

The juice valve 7 is lirst opened about half and the alkalinity is fixed to the desired amount, after Which the main gas valve All is opened and the alkalinity regulated by the valve l5. This valve l5 is never touched after the apparatus is set in operation, but the Waste gas valve i6 connected With the Vessel is new partially closed and a pressure created in this vessel, which pressure acts on the diaphragm 19 to torce the disk 2 to take the )osition at the large end et the conical opening` Q5, when the commercial gas employed runs 20% in carbonio acid content, and inte the center' of the opening if the gas contains 30% carbonic acid gas. It is obvious that the pressure el the Waste `e'as will be greater with the same opening` of the valve 1 6 as the carbonic acid content oi the gas used decreases.

Next, to correct the change in alkalinity caused by more gas going into the second tube, due to the increase in area around the disk 2li, the juice valve 7 which was partly open is further opened to bring the alkalinity of the juice back to the original state. The valve l5 permits the same quantity ot gas to enter regardless of the percentage ot carbonic acid in the gas.

testcase As the commercial gas increases in content et carbonio acid the u'aste gas coming :trom it decreases and hence the volume leaving the Waste valve will be less, causing the pressure et the waste gas ing the pressure on the diaphragm l). The disk Q4 due to this decrease in pressure rises cutting donn the amount ot going into the second tube, and thereby restores the original alkalinity.

The faire disk /l and the openiiirlA 25 are designed lor gras ranging); from 20%Y io fil-(W2, in carbonio acid content which is the usual range o'li the gas delivered by t-he kilns new in use.

lt is to be noted that in an apparatus oli this character by carbonatingij the juices nnder pressure the absorption et carbonio acid iras is more quickly accomplished and any irregularities in the character oi': the supply of coimnercial gas is taken care ollv without injury to the juice under treatment. As the, carbonio acid content of the commercial gas employed increases and decreases, the apparatus auto]naticallyv decreases and 'increases the total amount ot gas entering the apparatus. thereby insuring a unitorm quantity et carbonic acid `as tor action upon the sugar juice.

What is claimed is:

l. ln arbonating apparatus, separate coinmunicatingr vessels, means lor introducing` alkaline sugar juice under a substantially constant pressure into said vessels, means tor intriulucinp1 :i partially absorptiye gras under a pressure substantially equal to that et said juice into said vessels, said. gas lrariug a variable carbonio acid content` and means operable automatically by variation in the pressure of the unabsorbed `as content rcmaining in one of said vessels to vary the volumetric intlow ot the carbonnI acid .Lajas into the other oil" said Q. Vln carbonatina apparatus, a carbonator including` a pair et separate chambers, means connecting; said chambers to maintain a uui- 'lorm liquid level therein, means for causing); a constant circulation under substantially unitorm pressure et linv ed sugar juice through said chan'ibers. means torintroihicinpj a partially absorptire gas under a sul stantially constant. pressure into said chainbers for intermingling with said limed juice, and means operable automatically by rariation in the pressure et the nnabsorbed gaa remaining,` one of said chambers to vary the inflow ot said ab'forptire gas into the other otV said chambers so as to subject said juice to a predetermined quantityv ot said absorptive gas irrespectire ot Vtinctuations in the carbonic acid content ot said pas.

3. in apparatus ot the class described comprising a plurality ot carbonatingyes sels, means :tor conducting` alkaline sugar juice and partially absorptiif'e at snbstzur te decrease, thus reduclio lill) lili lill) sorptive gasv into 'the other `alkaline boinc acid gastherein tiall-y Vuniform pressures simultaneously into said vessels and means for utilizing .the` unabsorbed portionof the gas infone of said vessels to control the flow of partially abvessel.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of carlgionating'ves-v sels, means 'for conducting alkaliiie sugar juice to the vessels, ineanswcoirstantly pei'- mitting parti-ally absorptiye gas at a'pressurc substantially equal toV that .of the juice .to flow into the vessels and means controlled 'by the unabsoibed gases in'oiie of said vessels to regulate the vfloiv of gas into the other reeel.

i5. An apparatus of '.-tlieclass described uniform pressuies, and means for automata cally controlling the flow of gas into one ot .said vessels by the pressure ot the unabsorbed portion of the gas in the other vessel. 6. An apparatus oit' the class described sels, means permitting of continuous fioiv of alkaline sugar juice through said vessels ata substantially uniform pressure` means for cominingling partially absorpt-ive gas with the juice in the vessels While said gas is maintained at a pressure substantially equal to that of saidjuice, means resti'ictingthe passage of the unabsoibed portion of the gas from the Vessels so as to cause a pressure in the vessels and means forautomatically con` trolling the flow of j selsz by vthe pressure exerted by theV unabsoi-bed gases coming 'from the gas thateiiters the other vessel. A i

7. An apparatus of the class described Acomprising a carbonating vessel, means for introducing liined sugar juice ltherein at 'al substantially uniform pressure, means or subjecting the juice to theaction of a par# tially absorptive gas at apressure substantially equal to that ot' the juice pressure, and means Wherebytlie juice is subjected tov the action of a substantially constant quantity ofabsorptive gas as the absorptive content of the partiallyk absorptive gas varies in volume. f* f i 8; An apparat-usoffthe class described comprising a plurality ot 'carbonating yes,rv

sels, means permitting` the coinn'iingling ot sugar juice with commercial car.-

sure of the gasismaintainedsubstantially constant and equal to that ol the juice pressure, and means forvarying the quantity or' gas entering the yapparatus asv the iiiicarbonic acid content. j i

9. 'In carbonating apparatus, a pair-ofvessels arranged 4in inter-communicating rela- Ygas pressure iii-saidlatter `oumulation of uiiabsorbed gas therein., :and l juice simultaneously `of gas tlirouglivsaid comjiirising a plurality ot cziibonatiiig yesA gas into one of theves-` through said vessel,

the vessel.

fauxiliaiz'y source of supply.

and 4,wherein the pres i gas variesj n [from the juices in the vesselto control the vfurther flow of partially' *engagement Vwith said juice soy asl to inain-,`

tion, means for circulating yalkaline sugar jui ce under through said vessels, means for stantv pressure in It'lie .said vesselsior .coignn'ii-i fling ivitlifsaid uice, a restricted r4outlet provided in one oi said yessels ojiicratiug to permit. oit the y,creation .of .a

an automatically operating value responsive tothe variation in the ip ii'essure created Within said last named vvessel .to vary tlievinliow of carbonic acid containiii-r fas into Z' C the other oi said vessels, j A

1.0. In apparatus of the class described, a carlionatiug vessel, means for introducing under relatively constant pressures al Carbonic acid containing gas and alkalinesugar into the Vvessel, an 'aux'- iliarygas inlet, and an automatically operated valve mechanism responsive to varying gas pressures created in accumulation of unabsorbed gases for controlling automatically the'volumetric flow auxiliary inlet.

carbonating vessel, an inlet for introducing alkaline sugar juice and a'partially 'absorpl tire gas under substantially equal'pressures siniultaneously intosaid vessel, and'means 'for utilizing the unabsorbed portion of said;

carbonating vessel, means for., circulating al kaliiie sugar juice anda partiallyabsorptive; gas under 'substantially equal l pressures vthe accumulation of-unabsorbed'gases With-V in said' vessel to regulate automatically vfurtherkflow of the partially absorptive'gas to 13.v In apparatus of the cla-ss described, a carbonating vesseland tank in communication with said vessel, means for s'iinultaneously conducting a gas having anabsorptive cl :by `the acl and nieansgoyerned -byV lo; i)

a siiibstantially :constant pressure Y introducing .a gas having a `carbonio acidzrontent under a substantially con said vessel by the .i

1l. In appaiatus of the class described, Ia x loo carbonio acidv content and-falkalin'e sugar Y juice underV substantially acid gas supply for the vessel, and an automatically operated valve gas lreleased from the juice in said tank to regulate the How ofgas )through said equal pressures to -A the `tank,an'au-Xiliary source vof carbonio means responsive `to variations in pressure of the unabsorptive let, In apparatus of the classV described, al Y carbonating vessel, vmeans `forv yconducting arllcaline sugar juice and a partially absorptiye gas under substantially simultaneously into said vessel, and means uniform' pressures for utilizing the unabsorbed gases released f absorptive gas into Y tain a Constant amount of lime oxide in the carbonated juice discharged from the apparatus.

l5. ln apparaius ol' the olass desrrilied. a earlionating` vessel, an auxiliary earlionating vessel adjacent thereto, n1 :ans 'for conducting an alkaline juice and carbonio aeiil legas under substantially uniform pressures inlio both vessels, means lor controlling the 'Ilow of earlionir acid gras into ille irs, vessel, and ralre means for Conlrollinfg aul'oniatieally the carbonio acid gras enerinej tile auxiliary vessel, raid valve means lieinf: responsive to (lie ilueluating' pressures ol" unalisorbed gases stored in said vessel.

1G. The method ol Carlionating alkaline sugar juices, wliieli Consists in simultaneously introducing alkaline sugar juice and a partially alisorpl'ive gas having a variable Carbonio acid content under substantially uniform pressures into a receiving;- vessel, and in utilizing llie Varialile pressures o'l` the unalisorlied portions of said gas issuing 'from said Iiuiee lo increase or diminish tlie furllier volumetric inflow of said Carbonio acid gas into engagement with the juice, whereby the eleelire quantity el? Carbon-dioxide introduced inl'o said juice is maintained con stunt irrespective ol" tlie fluctuating.: proper tions thereof existing in the gas 1n its original form.

ln testimon)v n'liereoli a'fiix my signin lure.

HERBERT N. KI LBY. 

